Shaping Our Future: The Top-Rated Tech Companies to Work for in 2018

Not every company can provide its employees with the opportunity to say that they work on products that have changed the world. But when it comes to the tech sector, many can make the claim.

Facebook did it with social media, Apple with the smartphone and Google with its search engine, and that’s to name just a few. These and other disruptors continue to transform everything from how we work, to how we shop and socialize, or even decide where we’re going to eat in the evening—in the process generating huge revenues and, at times, controversies.

As a result, the competition to work for the very best tech firms is fierce. However, these organizations are just as competitive when it comes to attracting top talent. An important strategy here is creating the best experiences for their employees. Think generous compensation packages, valuable stock options, extraordinary campuses, mind-blowing perks (rooftop dog parks, anyone?)  and—of course—the excitement of working on cutting edge products.

So which tech companies are pulling ahead of the rest when it comes to employee satisfaction? Our data scientists tapped into our database of more than 18 million employer reviews and crunched the numbers to bring you the list of the all-around best tech companies to work for in 2018.

Cloud software giant Salesforce leads the pack

Cloud computing giant Salesforce beat out tough competition to claim the #1 spot—the fourth time that the firm led by charismatic CEO Marc Benioff has topped an Indeed ranking. (Salesforce previously came top of our best places to work in the Bay Area & Fortune 500 in 2017 and also led the Fortune 500 list in 2016.)

Behind Salesforce we see Adobe and then in third place social media giant Facebook, which—like Salesforce—is yet to hit its 20th birthday but which has vaulted ahead of many other more established firms. Meanwhile, fourth place Google is also still a teenager (although the firm will turn 20 this September).  

But while three of the top four firms may have established themselves in the 21st century, many of the other leading companies have been around for decades. They have held firm in the rapidly changing world of tech, successfully attracting top talent while maintaining their position as innovators.

For instance, second place Adobe was founded in 1982, two years before Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg was born. Despite its (relatively) venerable age, it is no stranger to the contemporary tech culture of creative perks: workers in its Seattle office can enjoy Kayak storage. Meanwhile enterprise software giant SAP (#5) dates back to 1972. Not only is it the the oldest firm in the top 5, but it is also the only one founded outside the US (in Germany), although the US head office is near Philadelphia. For SAP, its workers’ health is paramount and all employees can participate in the corporate oncology program.

Apple (founded 1976) and Microsoft (founded 1975) are longstanding competitors who have successfully maintained dominant positions in the tech world by innovating across the decades. Today the rivalry continues: the briefest of Internet searches will turn up endless articles comparing the iPad to the Microsoft Surface, for instance. These long-time rivals ended up close together in the rankings, occupying the 6th and 7th places respectively.

And while tax preparation may not immediately come to mind when most people think of hot technology, business and financial software company Intuit nevertheless an impressive #8 ranking, above many long time industry giants.

We also see a strong performance from network security company Juniper Networks, while there is some good news for Yahoo!, which was acquired by Verizon in 2017 after some rocky years. The web and email innovator secured the #10 spot, above giants such as Cisco and Intel.

So the question is: how does a tech company make it to the top? Keep reading to learn what the top five tech companies are doing right.

The best of the best: why the top 5 companies stand apart from the rest

1. Salesforce

Founded: 1999

HQ: San Francisco, CA

No. of Employees: 10,000+

Salesforce is renowned for its culture of philanthropy and fanatical customer loyalty. It also offers paid volunteer time and even has a chief love officer, in the shape of CEO Marc Benioff’s dog.

As noted above, the cloud computing company Salesforce has earned the number one spot on Indeed’s best places to work list several times over. However, not only was it the overall best company to work for in both 2017 and 2016 (and in the Bay Area last year), but it ranked highest among tech companies for management, pay and benefits, and job security and advancement, as well as second for culture.

“There's a reason Salesforce continues to be voted a top employer time and time again,” says one employee, who praises the company’s volunteer time off, flexible scheduling options and welcoming culture.

“Salesforce is not for those who cannot function in a whirlwind, always on the go environment,” cautions another employee. “But those who thrive under pressure will love the opportunities and challenges that come your way every day.”

2. Adobe

Founded: 1982

HQ: San Jose, CA

No. of Employees: 10,000+

Adobe, the software company offering creative, marketing and document management solutions topped the list of tech firms with the best work/life balance, but employees appreciate a number of the company’s other attractive features—including great benefits, open communication with upper management and the opportunity to work on innovative products.

“They are constantly motivating employees to continue to grow their careers,” says an employee.

Another employee adds, “people are treated with respect and are given enough autonomy to balance their work and life.”

3. Facebook

Founded: 2004

HQ: Menlo Park, CA

No. of Employees: 10,000+

Facebook may have ranked second place overall, but the social media giant secured the number one spot in the culture rankings. It shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise that a company which forever changed our culture would understand how to build an exceptional company culture as well. So what makes Facebook’s culture so great?

Certainly the company treats its well. Having moved into its Frank Gehry-designed campus two years ago, the firm is building again, but this time it is including housing for employees and 125,000 square feet of retail space which will also be open to the public.

But what’s the word from insiders? One employee says it’s the company’s true dedication to their mission of connecting the world, adding that Facebook “gives you opportunities to become a better version of yourself.”

Another Facebook employee notes that the work can be stressful, but says working among people who support and want to see fellow peers succeed created a motivating and encouraging environment that allowed employees to aim high and shoot for the best.

4. Google

Founded: 1998

HQ: Mountain View, CA

No. of Employees: 10,000+

Like Facebook, Google also has plans to expand, having recently announced a new 1.04 million square feet development in Sunnyvale, CA that could provide space for up to 4,500 employees.

Meanwhile, the company that revolutionized online search as we know it ranked #2 for management and #3 for culture. So what do employees love about working at Google? Many point to the company’s ideal combination of doing challenging work in a fun, relaxed environment.

“People know when to work hard and when to have fun,” noted one employee.  

And what do employees say about the company’s management style? “Supportive” is the word that seems to pop up again and again in reviews.

“The leads, supervisors, and management from the main office were very kind and always willing to help,” another employee says.

5. SAP

Founded: 1972

HQ: Walldorf, Germany

No. of Employees: 10,000+

Rounding out the top five, SAP is an enterprise application software company that creates solutions for managing business operations. The company ranked 3rd in work/life balance as well as job security and advancement.

“SAP offers opportunities for employees to develop their skills and and grow inside the company while providing a safe environment where you can be yourself and bring new ideas to the products and processes,” says one employee.

Other employees point out how the company’s volunteer opportunities and remote work options give them a sense of balance.

“SAP has a great culture that promotes learning and collaboration,” an employee says. “Once you work there it's hard to go anywhere else.”

Methodology:

Indeed has over 18 million company reviews. Indeed compiled this list by including internet/software and computer/electronics companies with at least 50 reviews between October 2015 - December 2017. These companies are the most highly rated on overall employee experience by users who were either employed by the company at the time of review or was employed there within the past three years.